Biomass Saccharification Apparatus for Controlled Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing saccharide solutions from biomass face challenges in achieving high saccharide recovery ratios and concentrations, leading to increased power consumption and costs due to high enzyme requirements and microbial extinction during fermentation at high saccharide concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A saccharide-solution producing apparatus that includes a saccharide concentration control unit, a cellulosic biomass saccharifying unit with hydrothermal decomposition and enzymatic saccharification tanks, producing a diluted saccharide solution by transferring lignin and hemicellulose components into pressurized hot water, and using these components to generate a saccharide solution with controlled concentrations suitable for fermentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the concentration of hydrothermally treated biomass is increased to produce high concentration saccharide solution, then the saccharide concentration increases, but the saccharide recovery ratio decreases due to worse mixing state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing hydrothermal treatment before enzymatic saccharification to pre-process the biomass. This pretreatment modifies the biomass structure in advance, making it more accessible to enzymes later, thereby maintaining high saccharide recovery ratios even when processing concentrated biomass solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by controlling the concentration of hydrothermally treated biomass within a specific range (5-20 wt%) and adjusting hydrothermal treatment conditions (temperature, pressure, time). These parameter optimizations balance mixing quality and saccharide concentration to resolve the contradiction between concentration and recovery ratio.
2Quantity of substance
If the concentration of hydrothermally treated biomass is increased, then the saccharide concentration increases, but the power requirement for agitation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of hydrothermally treated biomass to a specific range (5-20 wt%) that balances saccharide production efficiency with agitation power requirements. This parameter optimization prevents excessive power consumption while maintaining high saccharide concentration in the final solution.
3Reliability
If excessive enzyme is added to improve saccharide recovery ratio at high biomass concentration, then the saccharide recovery ratio improves, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs hydrothermal treatment as a preliminary step before enzyme addition. This pretreatment prepares the biomass structure in advance, improving enzyme accessibility and reducing the total enzyme quantity needed for effective saccharification, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining high recovery ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes enzyme addition quantity based on the concentrated biomass concentration (5-20 wt%), determining the appropriate enzyme-to-substrate ratio. This optimized parameter combination achieves high saccharide recovery without requiring excessive enzyme amounts, controlling production costs effectively.
4Productivity
If high concentration saccharide solution is used for fermentation, then the production efficiency increases, but microbial extinction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the saccharide concentration parameter within an optimal range for fermentation, balancing production efficiency with microorganism viability. By optimizing this critical parameter, the system achieves high productivity without causing microbial extinction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves saccharide solution production efficiency and reduces costs by optimizing saccharide concentrations and enzyme usage, while preventing microbial extinction during fermentation.
Implementation Method 1
a cellulosic biomass saccharifying unit that saccharifies hydrothermally treated biomass obtained by hydrothermally decomposing a cellulosic biomass material containing a lignin component and a hemicellulose component
Implementation Method 2
saccharifying the hydrothermally treated biomass by the addition of enzyme to the hydrothermally treated biomass
Implementation Method 3
fermenting the obtained saccharide solution, thereby producing ethanol
Data Source
AI summary
A saccharide-solution producing apparatus 11A according to the present invention is a saccharide-solution producing apparatus for producing a saccharide solution 22 derived from a carbohydrate-based material 21, and includes a saccharide-solution controlling unit 15A that controls the saccharide solution derived from the carbohydrate-based material 21, a cellulosic biomass saccharifying unit 16 that saccharifies hydrothermally treated biomass obtained by hydrothermally decomposing a cellulosic biomass material 35 that contains a lignin component and a hemicellulose component, and produces a diluted saccharide solution 37, and a diluted-saccharide-solution supply pipe L11 that mixes the diluted saccharide solution 37 produced by the cellulosic biomass saccharifying unit 16 into the saccharide-solution controlling unit 15A. With this configuration, it is possible to improve production efficiency of the saccharide solution 22 and to realize cost reduction.